Read on Twitter
Not right now, but at some point soon we (Hitting Twitter) are going to talk about this. https://twitter.com/lansky_baseball/status/1331791530030473217
Pujols is THE hitter that made me see the swing differently over 10 years ago. In his prime, he was the guy coaches used as the example.
Spread out. Keep it simple. Hands to the ball.
Video wasn't widely available then. I found this video on HSBaseballWeb.
Spread out. Keep it simple. Hands to the ball.
Video wasn't widely available then. I found this video on HSBaseballWeb.
At the time, the only wording I could muster was the "elbows moved independent of the hands" to describe how the hands weren't coming forward.
I had always been taught the foot knee, hip and hands would work forward together.
I had always been taught the foot knee, hip and hands would work forward together.
I was never a big leaguer, but I had a fairly successful career. I played D1 ball. Was a freshman all-american, a conference player of the year then had a brief indy ball career.
What I had been taught (and what I worked hard to execute) hadn't been totally unsuccessful.
What I had been taught (and what I worked hard to execute) hadn't been totally unsuccessful.
But that video of Pujols blew up my entire understanding of the swing. Video was becoming more widely available. The Casio EX-F1 put high speed video in my hands.
It was on.
It was on.
Pujols did a Diamond Demo on MLB Network in 2011 talking about knob to ball. This has been a constant talking point to anybody who is anti-advancement in hitting.
(And Hitting Twitter is a joke compared to old hitting boards.)
https://www.baseball-fever.com/forum/general-baseball/baseball-101-coaching-fundamentals/70270-albert-pujols-on-hitting-diamond-demos
(And Hitting Twitter is a joke compared to old hitting boards.)
https://www.baseball-fever.com/forum/general-baseball/baseball-101-coaching-fundamentals/70270-albert-pujols-on-hitting-diamond-demos
I've always said that I care about what a hitter feels but you CANNOT ignore what is objectively happening.
That is where I see technology playing a role. It can measure what happens, then you (1:1) have to reconcile what actually happens with your thoughts/intentions.
That is where I see technology playing a role. It can measure what happens, then you (1:1) have to reconcile what actually happens with your thoughts/intentions.
You can't say Pujols doesn't think & feel what he says.
But you can look at what is happening. You can observe, study.
What is missing from his feel swing compared to his actual swing and vice versa?
What natural tendencies must he fight/compensate against?
But you can look at what is happening. You can observe, study.
What is missing from his feel swing compared to his actual swing and vice versa?
What natural tendencies must he fight/compensate against?
Labeling Pujols as "right" is incomplete. His process is right for him, but not everybody.
This stuff has a lot of layers.
This stuff has a lot of layers.
